A House With a Lot of History

Well, George and Cora Braddy lived in this home for 27 years. He rented it from Oliver Smith. They had 8 children, Virgil Braddy, Leon Braddy, Malcolm Braddy , G.W. Braddy,R.M Braddy, Alma Martin, Hazel Braddy, and Mary Lou Braddy. My mom, R. M. , children were born in that house. Maynard Braddy, and I, Sonja Oliver, grand children, were born there also. That was the Braddy home for years. The ren...t at that time was one bale of cotton per year that Papa paid. A large kitchen and dining room were built off from the house which burned after our grandparents moved . Many, many memories are as fresh as if it were yesterday. G. W. and his family always lived nearby as he and papa farmed together. His family was Maynard, Wanda, Debra, and Wynoka. They were my closest playmates and I had a little red tricycle that Maynard and I rode round and round the long hall and the big porch. There was a lot of quilting going on with the neighborhood ladies. Mrs. Green, a teacher. Would stop by after school and she and mamma Cora dipped snuff and visited, sitting in the swing. There was a crack in the floor in front of the swing and they would put two fingers in front of their lips and could spit through that crack and never get it on the floor. Maynard and I would sit in the swing and try so hard to mimic mamma and her but we never mastered it. Lol Yards had to be swept weekly as there was no grass on the "yard" and on Friday , the yards were readied for the weekend. This was accomplished by cutting down gallberry bushes, tying them together and sweeping . The house was mopped with corn husks mops using potash as a cleaner. Saturday was grocery shopping day with most folks going to town and it was also visiting day between the small town folks as there were no phones in most homes. Saturday night was always steak and gravy, mashed potatoes and what ever vegetables were in season. Sunday was church day and the ladies getting up very early to fix vegetables and after church, chicken and dumplings and fried chicken were added with aunt Alma's delicious biscuits ready for whoever came for dinner, consisting of the children and my cousins. Papa and G. W. made syrup every year and this was always fun! Neighbors, their children , uncles, aunts, and cousins would come and the men who played instruments would sit around and play music! When it became cool, Papa and G. W. would have hog killing time , which would draw another crowd to help with getting meat in the smokehouse for the winter. Always we knew that grits, hot fresh biscuits, and tenderloin would be our meal along with fresh homemade syrup after a hard day's work, Many, many happy memories are shared by the Braddy family while living there. I have so many funny stories about our life there. These are just a few. I moved away and when Mom told me that Uncle Malcom had purchased it, I was ecstatic ! That home has so much of all of us , Diane, Douglas, Wynoka , Maynard, Wanda, Debra, Jack, Vivian, Micky, Wayne, Dale, Joe, had their lives touched by this home. This home is back to us, the Braddy family, and I am so thankful to Uncle Malcom and his family, Diane and Douglas for keeping it in the family!
The house is located on Crooked Run Rd in Treutlen County.
Pam Clopton
Written by my cousin, Sonja Oliver.